Lizard Like

Coastal hike to Lizard's Mouth in Santa Barbara

As a coastal enclave where beaches meet mountains, Santa Barbara County is one of those places that run the risk of having too much of a good thing. But fortunately we know a spot where you get views of both! Up on a ridge off a highway cutting through Goleta and Santa Barbara you’ll find Lizard’s Mouth, a massive sandstone rock with an overhang that resembles a gaping lizard’s mouth. At just half a mile (round-trip), the hike is short. From the trailhead, follow a singletrack dirt trail that weaves through sandstone boulders up a gradual hill for a quarter of a mile before meeting Lizard’s Mouth on the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Views of the Pacific Ocean stretch below to the south, where you can see as far as the Channel Islands. Your northern backdrop is the ridgeline of the Los Padres mountain range delineating the horizon. In between is a field of boulders and interesting rock formations among hills that make the area popular for rock climbers as well as hikers. It’s the perfect spot to scramble and explore, or sit atop one of the massive boulders.

BONUS BEER: Figueroa Mountain Brewery Taproom in downtown Santa Barbara (137 Anacapa Street, Suite F) has a tasty Lizard’s Mouth IPA brew. The taproom features indoor and outdoor seating, beers on tap, and growlers to go, plus food menus from local restaurants.

figueroa-mnt-brew-funkzone-01-image-jpeg

Directions to Trail: From Highway 154/San Marcos Pass Rd., turn west on West Camino Cielo. Follow West Camino Cielo for 3.6 miles (passing a sign for Lizard’s Mouth Rock along the way) before reaching the start of the trail on the west side of the road, which is marked by a wooden post and a large rusted drainpipe in the ground. Parking is located at dirt pullouts off the road.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

    View
  3. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View